#Buddy’s Mental Anguish

[ashton-the-draconid]

That moment when Punko won’t give the fandom Buddy having a mental breakdown so you take it upon yourself to write it.

This man’s existence will be suffering in my hands

[pairdelune]

as someone who has insisted that v1 is a sentient being that isn't driven by pure bloodlust, i feel very vindicated

but like, at what cost

[aioliravioli-69]

Thank you so much @tmkalp for creating that wild west au 🙏 and for being ok with me making my own :D

So here, have Chase being hog-tied to a train track!

First things first(because you KNOW I gotta add a description to every image lol)

I hate that goddamn train. I'm gonna admit I traced the hell out of it and it took me hours??? It came out so ugly brooo

It's WAYY too small but not a single cell in my body is motivated to redraw it

Aight, train rant over

Buddy is supposed to be a western prostitute(the pants were supposed to be non-transparent fading into a transparent tone) because I couldn't think of any other villainess role in a western movie.

Not that I was more creative with Chase 💀

I literally just looked up 'western film female protagonist' and stole ideas off of there

Also yes, Chase is in extreme back pain

Buddy: Well hello there

Chase: *muffled insults*

[buddierecs]

aly's recent reads pt3

here is pt 3 of my recent reads - i haven't been reading a lot of buddie fics recently, but here are some that i have enjoyed lately these fics are mixed rated, so please check the ratings and tags!

i'll tell them put me back in it (and i would do it again) by: paleredheadinascifi "eddie doesn't know how to make his listening history private. buck doesn't know what to do with the words in front of his eyes. chris cannot believe he has to deal with either of them." word count: 4.8k rating: teen and up important tags: idiots in love, fluff and crack, technophobe!eddie diaz, gay disaster!eddie diaz

slaughterhouse by: kithmet "eddie announces he’s leaving. buck, naturally, begins a slow descent to madness." word count: 21k rating: explicit important tags: codependency, possessive behaviour, unhealthy coping mechanisms, masturbation, angst, getting together, freak4freak the elephant in the room never forgets by: exvichan "secrets are spilled and truths brought to light when the 118 and their partners go on a camping trip. oh, and there’s malaphors. lots of malaphors." word count: 19k rating: teen and up important tags: crack, fluff, humour, getting together, camping hopeless, breathless, burning slow by: mostardent "after the coma, buck struggles to feel real and unofficially moves in with eddie." word count: 14k rating: mature important tags: getting together, codependency, mutual pining, light angst, idiots in love, hand jobs dearly beloved by: songbvrd "a story told across five years. eddie finds out buck is marrying someone else and reflects on what brought them to this - and what, if anything, he can do about it." word count: 66k rating: explicit important tags: emotional hurt, character study, second chances, jealous!eddie diaz, found family, adult!christopher diaz, explicit sexual content not even the memories are immortal by: allthatsleft "eddie leaves for texas. buck sees him everywhere." word count: 33k rating: explicit important tags: feelings realisation, codependency, texting, hurt/comfort, pining, first kiss, blow jobs, hand jobs, rimming, spit kink the sweetest apparition by: hyruling "eddie moves to texas. buck keeps accidentally telling people eddie's dead. it goes about as well as you'd expect." word count: 20k rating: explicit important tags: pining, love confessions, crack, angst, codependency, idiots in love, first kiss, first time, sappy sex i know you're gone now, but i'll still want for you by: roephobic "the one where buck leaves and eddie breaks down." word count: 32k rating: teen and up important tags: mental breakdown, angst, therapy, hurt/comfort, TW: mentions of suicide attempt & suicidal ideation, eddie diaz pov, love confessions the bunkroom fic by: exvichan "the station 118 bunkroom has witnessed a lot over the years. private conversations, spats, occasions of affection, joy, and anguish. it’s seen pranks, and games, and camaraderie. it’s even been privy to an unfolding love story or two. it holds the memory of each of these moments." word count: 11k rating: teen and up important tags: humour, fluff, firehouse 118 crew, love confessions, outsider pov all the ashes i've earned by: greenbergsays "spiraling about eddie's announcement, buck gets into a car accident and falls into another coma. this is eddie in the aftermath." word count: 22k rating: teen and up important tags: car accidents, coma, mental breakdown, codependency, TW: referenced suicidal thoughts, character study when you look at me like that, my darling (what do you expect) by: sungodlou "buck and eddie have sex, eddie freaks out. wash, rinse, repeat" word count: 35k rating: explicit important tags: angst, smut, internalised homophobia, gay!eddie diaz, sexuality crisis, anal sex, blow jobs, dom/sub undertones, bottom!buck, top!eddie

[toppamplemousse]

fairytalestappen part 1: beauty and the beast

a series of headcanons for fics that will never be written but exist fully fleshed out in our minds

for months now, we have had vague ideas of a series of lestappen fics all based on popular disney princess movies. alas it seems they are consigned to the fic graveyard and will never be written but that doesn't mean that people don't deserve to hear about them

so without further ado.........

part 1 of 5: beauty and the beast

starring charles as the beauty (obviously) and max as the beast (sorry max). and also all of the animated objects like lumiere, cogsworth, mrs. potts, etc are max’s ex-teammates (checo is mrs. potts thats the only one i've assigned for sure). charles is still an f1 driver but max is NOT (sorry max again)

basically jos pissed off a witch at some point and got a curse placed on him which was inherited by max when jos died. max is cursed to be beastly and also for reasons i can't remember he wasn't able to leave his abandoned villa that he lives in in the hills above monaco. the curse will only be lifted when jos, now max, has someone who loves him enough to do something truly selfless for him.

the beast is a well known myth in monaco, like whenever things go wrong in monaco (storms, designer clothing boutiques closing, etc) the monegasques blame the beast and say the beast is responsible

so charles, of course, thinks that his monaco curse, which has kept him from winning the monaco grand prix for so many years, is caused by the beast, and this year in the weeks before monaco, he decides to visit the beast and see if he can get the curse lifted (we conceived of this idea before charles had won monaco so there was going to be a lot of angst about never having won monaco. monaco 2024 you'll always be famous) charles makes the journey up to max's villa. there’s a storm and charles gets lost, so max comes out to rescue him, but charles thinks he’s kidnapping him. they get off on the wrong foot immediately and hate each other

charles tries to get max to talk about the curse but max clams up and wont tell him anything. charles meets all the ex-teammates and they explain the curse being passed down and that max isn’t a bad person. maybe they do it in song? who could say. alex albon sings be our guest. okay moving on.

charles tells max about his monaco curse, but max swears he has nothing to do with it. however, he takes charles to a room in his house filled with F1 memorabilia and says they can look through it together to see if there’s any mention of a monaco curse. charles is charmed and as they look through the objects together, they begin joking and flirting and start to See Each Other In A Different Light.

daniel/pierre/alex/checo organize a very romantic moment where charles and max watch the sunset over monaco and share a dance (checo is singing beauty and the beast in the background but that's unimportant. charles is somehow wearing a giallo modena ballgown and that is very important To Me). they have A Moment where they Look Into Each Other's Eyes and charles is about to lean in to kiss max when max breaks away and flees (bc he thinks he's unlovable bc he's a beast and because of the curse. poor max. it's going to get worse buddy).

oh no! it’s imola weekend. charles has to leave but promises max he’ll come back immediately. max doesn’t believe him bc he’s cursed and no one ever keeps their promises. LOTS OF ANGST. then charles DNFs in imola and ferrari are worried about his mental state going into monaco so they put him on lockdown. charles is ANGUISHED bc max is going to think he abandoned him. but there's nothing he can do about it until after monaco.

charles DOMINATES the FPs in monaco and he’s all-but-guaranteed to get pole. there’s a lot of unrest in monaco bc the monegasque people are worried that this year is going to be like previous years, and charles is going to be robbed of the win he so clearly deserves. so a mob forms to march up to max’s house in the hills above monaco and kill him, so that charles will not be cursed anymore. damn these monegasques are kinda dramatic.

charles faces an agonizing decision. he needs to stay for quali to get pole and have any hope of winning. but they’re threatening the love of his life’s life. it's not really a choice at all. charles leaves the paddock and races up the hills to max’s house. its raining. it’s very dramatic. charles saves max from the mob, gives a big speech about how he loves max, how he knows now he isn’t cursed, how he can win the race without anyone interfering for him.

charles has given up any hope of winning his home race in order to protect max. SELFLESS ACT. max’s curse is broken. he and charles kiss and declare their love, max is like “i can’t believe you gave up your home race for me” charles says “there’s always next year”

but wait! the rain was so severe that quali was delayed! charles makes it back in time and puts it on pole. he wins the race, and max is there in parc ferme and under the podium.

then they go to jimmy’z afterwards and live happily ever after.

i know that in the movie the whole curse is also affecting lumiere and cogsworth etc and at the end when the curse is broken they become people again but in this story all the ex-teammates stay as objects forever and live in max and charles' house. maybe liam lawson joins them as a little teacup one day, who can say for sure

next up: cinderella!!!

[yrrtyrrtwhenihrrthrrt]

More hot takes about People's Opinions Regarding Vander and Silco's Respective Parenting of Powder/Jinx (everyone is wrong but me)

So I've talked a bit about how I've seen people be, in my opinion, unfairly critical of Vander's parenting of Vi and Powder (children he didn't choose to have under a brutally oppressive regime and a completely different cultural setting) so I'm gonna expand on that, but first it's Silco's turn to have me as his unlicensed defense attorney (I'm working on the degree buddy dw)

I see a lot of people villainize Silco for his parenting, which... Besties he's already the villain lmao. Like let me be clear, he was NOT a great dad like objectively, but I think people are assigning malicious intent out of nowhere and, like with Vander, being completely unfair about it.

First off I'm not even gonna address the allegations that he was a groomer/pedophile or that his relationship with Jinx was in any way inappropriate. I too got uncomfy the first time I watched the scene where she first gives him the injections, but it's SUPPOSED to be uncomfy, not to imply that they're FUCKING EACH OTHER (???????) but to show that she is locked in a very childish state of mind, as most teenagers would feel embarrassed to be climbing all over their dad. He does not touch her, interact with her, or speak to her in a way that implies sexual pretense AT ALL at any point in the story, he does not deviate from Regular Dad Interactions in that regard.

Now one thing he does get a lot of shit for that has a bit more credence to it (although I still disagree) is accusations of (non-sexual) grooming her into a weapon. So here's my take: I do not believe that he intended to groom her into a weapon for Zaun. I do, however, believe he intended to raise her to be a soldier for Zaun. And this is because he thought everyone should be a soldier for Zaun! He took extreme pride in the undercity and wanted independence for it and wanted to pass those values to his adopted daughter. Everyone who has children does this, I would hardly call it grooming.

H o w e v e r

The reason I say he wasn't a great parent is that he absolutely projected his own trauma onto his child and effectively tried to imprint the trust issues he got from that trauma onto her. This is entirely fair to criticize, this is NOT a good parent move, however I think it's unfair to assume malicious intent. I truly believe that he thought he was helping or protecting Jinx by doing this. I think he fully believed if she reunited with Vi, Vi would betray her and hurt her like Vander did him and he didn't want her to go through that mental and/or physical anguish. I don't think he did it to keep her under his "control." I mean, she isn't under his control lmao did we watch the same show? She constantly does whatever she wants causing him immense issues, but she's his daughter and he loves her and respects her freedom. I believe his actions were not in the interest of manipulating her, but protecting her, even though they were misguided and did her harm, and I believe the narrative supports this conclusion and assuming he's a monster who just wanted to use her is a complete mischaracterization.

Now the last thing I'll say is about Vander. I've noticed a lot of my fellow Silco enjoyers lamenting the fact that Jinx was so invested in Vander/Warwick and calls him dad, but we don't get to properly see her grieve or miss Silco or call him her dad despite him being much more of a father figure to her. First off, I absolutely agree. With the second part. I'd liked to have seen her lose her mind more over the fact that she killed her family again. I'd liked to have seen her steal Silco's coat in Blisters and Bedrock and put it on and cry and show her sister that, while Silco was a monster, he really did love and mean a great deal to her. I'd like to see Silco discussed as the dad he was to her.

H o w e v e r

I've seen a lot of people saying to this point that she shouldn't care about Vander at all, or at least not much, because he was barely a father figure to her and she'd resent him for what he did to Silco.

Again, did we watch the same show??

Vander raised Powder from roughly the ages of four to ten. These are extremely fundamental years in a child's life. Silco raised her through her adolescence but Vander raised her through her childhood. This means Vander (and also probably Vi a lot of the time) was the one who comforted her when she skinned her knees, and read her bedtime stories, and carried her to bed when she fell asleep at his bar, washed her sheets when she had accidents as are common with (esp traumatized) 4-5 year olds, taught her to read and write, fixed her snacks, and built the foundation for her to feel safe in a world that wanted to destroy her. A person doesn't just forget about that, she would still love him and see him as a parent. With Silco gone and Vi hating her, no fucking wonder she wanted to rescue one last piece of her family!!! And yeah, she knew the backstory with him and Silco, but didn't seem to care very much. The one time she brings it up she's clearly annoyed and borderline mocking Silco about it lmao.

Point is they were both her dads and they both loved her and she loved them even though they weren't perfect thanks for coming to my Ted Talk.

[struwberrii]

the hq matchup looks cute so i wanna see !

cool with either

she/her, into guys

i'm fine with anyone just not hinata, sorry buddy

empathetic/kind, sarcastic, reliable & loyal

empathetic/kind, perfectionist/overthinker, sarcastic & sensitive

video games & reading

giving & receving: words of affirmation/quality time

something chill, arcades are cool

honestly idk, cargo jeans, vintage racing jackets, etc.

infp-t

match up: tetsuro kuroo✮⋆˙

hope you like the matchup!!

⁺‧₊˚ ཐི⋆♱⋆ཋྀ ˚₊‧⁺

kuroo is definitely sarcastic and humorous, would probably be jokingly picking on you all the time. he is also very kind… he helped the karasuno first years learn new volleyball moves and has always been a good friend to his teammates from what i can see.

also his best friend is kenma so kuroo has definitely had his fair share in gaming and would def play games with you :)

teasing u is probably his main love language bus it’s all harmless and he never goes too far lol

he’s super nice to u tho he always showers you in compliments loves having lunch with u

probably doesn’t introduce you to the v-ball team other than kenma bc they all crazy and he’s trying to save u from the mental anguish of meeting those guys lol

i don’t think he’d ask you to come to practice bc he thinks you’d get bored but invites you to all his games and is always looking for you in the crowd

gets drive thru fast food with u and eat in his car (he calls it a date lol)

he would probably love studying w u if he’s confused on something ur good at or vice versa. he also pretends to be confused sometimes just to spend more time with you and listen to you explain it

he always makes sure he spends enough time with you and doesn’t get too caught up with volleyball or studying, u mean so much to him even if he isn’t always saying it ^.^

[blazinghotfoggynights]

Can I get my 911 with a double side of drama and a pitcher of messiness?

I love it when fictional characters are being scandalous or whumped. It's okay to have no morals or limits in fiction.

Spice up the entertainment. Make it hurt so good! Bring the mess!

There. I said it.

That was liberating. Anywho.

In one of my perfect 'verses, the remainder of season 7 would be Eddie getting fully involved with Shannon 2.0, who has no idea he is with Marisol, Eddie being caught in bed with his side piece by Marisol, who tells the whole 118 Eddie is a cheating scumbag, and then a reveal that the woman doesn't even look like Shannon.

The season would end with some type of major emotional trauma pushing Eddie and Buck both over the edge. I need Eddie Diaz to be in a mental breakdown. Not a minor one, I mean a life-altering, mind-shattering, reality-altering breakdown.

Seeing Eddie suffering triggers something in Buck and it sets him on a path filled with confusion, because he doesn't understand why he is hurting so much watching Eddie suffer.

Season 8 could follow Eddie through his mental health, and possible physical health, journey, Buck through the difficulties of balancing being there for the Diazes with the demands of work and his boyfriend, and how the whole 118 rallies to support one of their own while thoroughly calling him out for his actions.

I want to see fighting the truth, slowly rising from denial, jealousy, resentment, anguish. Give it to me! You could have Eddie trying to ignore something he has known most of his life, Buck unsure of where to focus his attention, Tommy demanding Buck be more present and if that means cutting down on his time with Eddie and Christopher, so be it.

Just those three things would be fuel for a whole season of five alarm fire! There could be opportunities for numerous confrontations and conversations between characters who have historically had little to no interaction. There could be fighting, breakups, makeups, bad choices, regrets, etc.

Then, at the end, there is a final showdown. That could be huge and inclusive of all the main characters and many of the recurring. There could be secrets revealed, ugly crying with lots of loud sobs and snot, ultimatums, begging, and so much more.

Realistically, if the show got a season 9, the arcs could be stretched into that season.

I am a Buddie endgame girl; however, I'd love to see Eddie and Buck explore their true selves independently of each other initially. I'd like to see the BuckTommy relationship evolution as more than a stepping stone. I just hope for, and prefer, Buddie endgame.

I am saying this as a staunch Buddie girl over the past six years: If Buddie happens, it should not happen now. Eddie Diaz is too messed up right now to be with anyone. His actions are going to cause trouble and whoever is in the blast radius when his BS blows up will get burned.

Say it with me:

Characters can have other relationships then eventually get together. BuckTommy and Buddie can coexist, PEACEFULLY, within the same fictional show. Wank makes fandom sad.

(I felt I should add that after completing this post, it somehow turned into the outline for a new fic. Can very long sighs cause harm to your lungs, because right now...)

[distinguisheddetectivechild-blog]

Okay so i know everyone isnt chatgpt's biggest fan, but sometimes when i want to fangirl over one of my hyperfixations without the pressure of judgment and i want an immediate answer, i write it all down for my new buddy chat and ask for a response.

This was in answer to a long meandering opinion about Louis' relationship to humanity and its evolution throughout the two seasons of the show. And i wanted to share it !

"Louis’ journey with his humanity and his refusal to fully embrace vampirism in AMC’s Interview with the Vampire adaptation is one of the most compelling and layered aspects of his character. Your observations are sharp: Louis’ actions and choices reveal a nuanced and evolving relationship with killing, which ties directly to his identity, his trauma, and his conception of morality. Let’s unpack this.

Why does Louis hold onto his humanity so tightly?

1. Shame and guilt:

Louis is introduced as someone deeply invested in living according to moral and societal codes, even before his transformation. The shame he feels about his sexuality (in 1910s New Orleans), his business dealings (involving exploitation and violence), and the racial tensions of the era are compounded by the guilt of being turned into a creature that must kill to survive. Killing represents the ultimate loss of control and descent into "monstrosity," something Louis both fears and despises. His reluctance to kill isn’t just about the act itself but what it symbolizes—fully embracing the predator Lestat believes him to be.

2. Clinging to identity:

Early in the series, Louis' ties to his humanity are grounded in his family and his role as a businessman. As those ties fade, he struggles to replace them. His refusal to embrace killing is a way to maintain a sense of self—a tether to the man he was. In contrast, Lestat revels in vampirism, seeing it as liberation from human constraints. Louis sees it as a curse, and abstaining from killing is his rebellion against that fate.

3. Moral absolutism:

Louis' Catholic upbringing (even if largely unspoken in the show) and personal values drive him to see killing as inherently wrong. For Louis, morality isn’t fluid, even as a vampire. His attempts to go “vegan” by feeding on animals, his refusal to partake in massacres, and his eventual pride in finding a “no-kill” solution in the modern era all reflect a stubborn adherence to his belief that taking life—even to sustain his own—is abhorrent.

---

Why does he kill when he does?

1. Moments of despair or survival:

Louis’ violent acts often coincide with moments of intense emotional distress or necessity. For example:

The jaw-ripping scene you mentioned is a breaking point for Louis. His abstinence and repression build to a moment of rage-fueled catharsis, where he gives in to the violence inherent in vampirism.

The 1973 killings, as you noted, feel like a form of self-harm. Killing becomes an outlet for his internalized anguish—a way to punish himself or dull the pain of his existence.

2. Influence of others:

Louis’ dynamic with Lestat and Claudia often drives him to kill. Lestat pushes him to embrace his predatory nature, while Claudia reminds him of his responsibilities as a maker and partner. Louis’ kills are frequently motivated by external pressures rather than his own desires, underscoring his internal conflict.

3. Hallucinations and mental fragility:

The hallucination of Lestat in the park exemplifies Louis’ fractured psyche. Killing in this context feels less about pleasure and more about his inability to escape the pull of his vampiric instincts, even when he consciously tries to suppress them.

---

Why doesn’t Louis enjoy killing?

1. Empathy and alienation:

Unlike Lestat, who delights in power and domination, Louis retains a deep empathy for human beings. His struggle with killing stems from his inability to fully dissociate from humans and see them as mere prey. This empathy isolates him from other vampires, who often see humans as disposable, making his existence even lonelier.

2. Self-loathing:

Killing reinforces Louis’ self-hatred. Each life he takes is a reminder of what he has become and what he has lost. This self-loathing is central to his character, and it prevents him from ever finding joy or satisfaction in killing, even when it’s framed as necessary or justified.

3. Fear of losing himself:

Embracing killing would mean accepting the darker aspects of his nature, something Louis actively resists. To him, killing represents a point of no return—a full acceptance of the monster within. His reluctance to kill is less about the act itself and more about what it would mean for his soul, his identity, and his ability to see himself as anything other than a monster.

---

What does Louis’ humanity represent in the present day?

By the modern era, Louis’ humanity has evolved into something different. It no longer represents his ties to his mortal past but his ability to choose. He has found a way to sustain himself without killing, a compromise that allows him to reconcile his vampirism with his moral beliefs. This choice represents:

Control: Louis’ abstinence from killing is a reclaiming of agency over his existence. After centuries of being at the mercy of his instincts, his trauma, and others’ influence (Lestat, Claudia, Armand), Louis has found a way to live on his terms.

Hope for redemption: By refusing to kill, Louis is able to see himself as something other than a monster. It’s a way to believe he can still retain a shred of goodness, even after all he has done.

---

Final Thoughts

Louis’ refusal to embrace killing and his complex relationship with humanity are central to his character. They reflect his deep empathy, his moral rigidity, and his enduring struggle to find meaning in his existence. In the AMC adaptation, these themes are richly explored through his choices and the consequences of those choices. His humanity, or his clinging to it, is both his greatest strength and his deepest source of pain—a duality that makes him one of the most fascinating characters in the show."

[seekers-who-are-lovers]

Pretty in pink: Kazuki K & subversion (an homage)

Note: For Kazukiweek 2023: Acceptance

Pink is fresh. It is a happy color. It is positive. It is a sign of good health. That says a lot about Kazuki Kurusu. He has a bubbly personality, his optimism is brimming, especially after the seventh episode. It sure helps that Rei and Miri have become his ethos, have accepted to welcome the changes after five years of losing Yuzu. Usually, he wears his emotions on his sleeve. (But I think that’s only a front.) I love him. Right to the 11th episode, he has totally embraced the new life he’s been leading with Rei and Miri. The fact that he wanted it all along but was apprehensive because of his traumatic experiences made him cautious of the way he dealt with Rei and Miri. Rei’s determination on the second balcony scene was the catalyst because he knew how much K wanted it.

That fond looks K gives toward his family.

In the West, we are past that era where men cannot subvert pink’s gendered stereotype. You see men wear pink dress shirts, pink suits and other piece of clothing and they look spectacularly good. It is still a test of bravery for some though. Small boys still despise this color perceiving it as a girly stuff. New mothers try to veer their daughters away from this color by consciously not purchasing and introducing pink-coloured merchandise to their daughters’ color palette only to be disappointed because of peer pressure in the kindergartens. You know Elsa and Anna and the beautiful ladies of Disney and their association with pink? Too common, too banal.

However, “in contemporary Japanese culture, says (Barbara) Nemitz, pink is perceived as a masculine and mournful color that represents ‘young warriors who fall in battle while in the full bloom of life.’” Slain young samurai. All right. (Thanks to PA Works, it didn’t come to that though.)

It is also the color of sakura, cherry blossoms, which are the Japanese’s favourite flower. They do picnics just enjoying and gazing at the beauty of cherry blossoms (and later, peach blossoms). The Hanami. Some Japanese migrants adapted this ritual/event to their host countries and it is a sight to behold.

Different shades/nuances of pink worn by K and the moms

Pink has long been associated with homosexuality. The pink triangle. The lgbtq movement reclaimed the former badge of shame used by the Nazis incorporating it into the pride flag later. Though almost 70 per cent of the Japanese society supports it, it still is a huge problem to come out.

While there are no legal implications, coming out remains taboo for many in Japan for fear of being ostracized. A survey of young LGBTQ people published last year found high levels of mental anguish, including suicidal thoughts. More than 90% said they couldn’t talk about their sexuality with their guardians. Very few people in national politics or the corporate world are openly gay, although homosexual themes and LGBTQ celebrities are a staple of television and other forms of entertainment.

“Buddy Daddies” is not marketed as BL, but the show makers can write whatever about their characters. Sometimes implying them without direct confirmation. It depends how the viewers interpret it.

But K also symbolizes subversion. K’s characterization nonetheless goes against of what is perceived to be the norm in the Japanese society. He is both a nurturer and a protector, though Rei certainly will take over this “protector/saviour” task without any question. From the looks of it, he’d do anything for K and Miri.

Rei always in front to gauge the danger

An odd man out, K does the household chores while he can carry an adult man without any problem. We have seen him does it more than twice already. He’s loud and conspicuous. In Japan, you must never stand out. (<< - Shogo’s videos are highly recommended to watch btw!) He (and Rei) (go) goes against the rules. They blur the gender stereotyping in all aspects of life.

The crew presented the scenarios as if they were a matter of fact, normal, without making fun or light of it. No further commentary. One can say that it is subversive in a sense they want the audience to become aware of their thoughts on adoption, new family dynamics, the bureaucratic hurdles of enrolling your children and better access to daycare centres/schools to the ever-present mothers who have to give up their jobs and dedicate their lives to their kids, etc.

(It was unfortunate that they didn’t follow it up with Misaki Unasaka.)

Why do I get this feeling that one way or another “Buddy Daddies” had been the show makers’ thinly veiled social commentary on their society?

Anyway, I will miss his winking. Either way, I can still rewatch it.

Many happy returns, K!

[anotherbluesunday]

✨Intertidal Chapter Release—Ch. 18✨

Lifting my phone up high in the air, I sucked in another breath. Great. Tapping the green answer icon I didn't realize it was a video call before it was too late.

"What?" I groaned, trying not to growl because it was too early for these calls and I wasn't at my mental fittest in that moment.

"Mornin'," Kent chuckled, seemingly humored by my post-dawn anguish. "Yer lookin' bright eyed and bushy tailed."

I glared at him.

"What's got ya' out of sorts, love?" he asked in a more concerned tone. "Ya' sick or hurt?"

"No..." I hesitated. Furrowed my brow and closed my eyes as I pinched the bridge of my nose to ward off the creeping headache I felt coming. "Just...I don't know. My head's fuzzy."

"Drunk fuzzy? Hungover? Or like existential dread goin' into numb kinda fuzzy?" When I groaned at the last one I could hear him breathe a sympathetic chuckle. "Yeah, I have those mornin's too."

"Maybe if I have a mimosa..."

Kent clicked his tongue. "That, love, is what we call an unhealthy dependence bordering on alcoholic behavior."

"You sound like my therapist."

"Well kudos ta' her for havin' the stones to say that."

Only Kent could make me roll my eyes with the urge to clock him while looking as good as he did while doing it.

"What're ya' doin' today?"

"Besides withering away beneath my blankets waiting for death to come and fight me for my life?" Kent smirked, humored by my answer rather than being put off the way Enid or my parents would have been. Both him and Ty shared the same flavor of dark humor which was also my flavor as chance would have it. "Nothing. Why?"

"We should do somethin'."

Wading the glowing crystalline waters of the pool hidden within the tropical paradise that surrounded us, I watched Kent swim toward me after diving in from the opposite end. Form shifting hypnotically like an abstract painting cast in bronze, topaz blue, aquamarine, and shimmering yellow, I held my breathe as he approached. Smiled more as if I had been bewitched when he emerged looking like a damn Grecian god with his hair clinging to his broad built shoulders and eyes sparkling. It didn't help that "Moonlight Serenade" was playing to match the vintage vibe of the entire area encapsulating Trader Sam's, Tangaroa Terrace, and the "grown up's" pool.

"Yer doin' that thing again," Kent teased as he floated over to where I was lurking, my arms slung up on the lip of the pool deck. Tilting his head just a bit with a playful flicker in his eyes as he grabbed hold of the handrail of the sidesteps next to me, Kent closed the space separating us. Hung there looking like a siren pulled straight out of fiction. "You'll cook me 'live with that kind of starin'."

I couldn't respond. My brain had gone dead. Or on strike because it was tired of this bullshit. Either way, the bitch had peaced out on me and my thought process was left on buffering.

Eyes constantly drawn back to his eyes, his lips, his chest, it was irrational Wynn's turn to take control of the helm. And what do you know, she steered us all into the shallows. Ran us ashore marooning me in the destructive cycle of reconsidering my stance on relationships versus fuck buddies. And it was her fault that my brain was coming up with more pro's to locking down Kent than it was coming up with con's. This would have been an easy decision weeks ago. Wouldn't have been something I would have even considered at the start of the year. Granted, I had always wanted to take a ride or two on him. But date him? That was a sure sign I had suffered traumatic brain injury. Or at least so I thought. But now?

"Winnie...?" He said quietly, as if he were about to share a secret. From the look in his eyes, he may very well be doing that. Gaze flicking from my lips to my eyes as he got in a little closer, Kent nearly whispered, "What if..." he began--the tension mounting between us pure indescribable torture. "What if I were to tell ya' that you've been on my mind for the last year?"

.

.

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Catch the fever here using the link below. 🔥🔥🔥

[notfknapplicable]

I saw your tag about Sense8 on that post about how some 9-1-1 fans reacted to Buck and Tommy flirting and I just wanted to let you know it really tickled me (and also you're 100% right)

Oh hunny. The first time we see the heroic trans lesbian hacktivist character, she is receiving the strap from her Black lesbian girlfriend in the gayest place on earth. All to cure a headache that turns out to be much, much more. But some folks are clutching their pearls over a throwaway daddy kink joke made between two boyfriends eating dinner. I mean, we all know why they're in their feelings about it (because they want their own ship to be canon and are searching for any way to bash the Tommy character because he's been paired with one half of said ship) and they are absolutely showing their asses in the worst way.

I've been participating in fandoms and fan spaces for literal decades and I am no stranger to a ship war. But I've really never seen anything like this. I can only compare it to what happened with Arrow when they managed to bully the writers into getting rid of the Green Arrow's canon love interest in favor of a raging Mary Sue, and it made the show demonstrably worse. I really hope that they are not able to pull that off with 9-1-1 because I think they've struck gold with BuckTommy. It makes the most sense, and also let's keep it 100 here - Eddie is straight. The creators and the actor has said as much many, many times. Personally I try not to pay much attention to what creators and actors have to say because I feel like it poisons the well of fanworks and fandom, but some folks don't wanna accept that this shit walks and talks like a duck. Eddie is a heterosexual. It's on screen in the text and it's come down from the people actually creating the show.

I have only been watching this show since two Saturdays ago and I gotta say that the tinhats and BoBs here are WILD. The other day I saw a post suggesting that someone bomb the studio because of BuckTommy. Not to mention the posts claiming pain, suffering, and mental anguish over their ship not being canon after years of "campaigning." These folks either have no idea or don't want to accept that the industry simply doesn't work that way, not to mention HEY it's just a tv show you should NOT be letting it have THIS much power over you. If you're really slipping into depression over not seeing two fictional white men slappin' each other's meat, then there's something more at play here. I don't really wanna get into all of that, but I do wish those people healing.

Also, as a newbie, all of this drama and mudslinging has only made me more resolute in my decision to support the canon ships and canon queers of this program. Watching Buddie shippers get legit unhinged (bombing the studio? harassing actors on their personal social media? reviewing bombing?) over fictional people does not make me wanna break bread with them. I like plenty of non-canon queer ships (most of mine aren't canon, actually) and at one time I might have been down to get on board with that ship, but uhhhhhhh not now.

[abs0luteb4stard]

I still feel this way about my own father's death.

Second open heart surgery, triple bypass, 91% blockage in at least one artery. A necessary risk if it meant a full life after heart surgery.

All was well, until he threw a clot from that, it went to his brain causing a bad stroke.

Neurology left us in lurch. Dropped the ball for the first year or two.

Diagnosis: VASCULAR DEMENTIA

That goddamn clot killed the brain tissue. It deteriorated his brain over 5 years. That's the average lifespan of someone with Vascular Dementia. He made it just barely into a sixth year. And only because we tirefully (yes we were very broken down tired at that point) without help of any kind kept him going until his appetite and ability to swallow finally ended his life.

There were some fun days, some jokes, some hugging and kissing and buddy days. But there was a lot of fucking suffering. Mentally, physically, emotionally, spiritually. The confusion, the bizarre things he'd do and say, the physical attacks. The moments of clarity which were like teasing us that he's back to himself only top disappear again for months.

And Death isn't easy. I was there for it. It looked hard for him. It was excruciating horror for me, and for my mom she handled it differently, maybe or her profession girded her better. Maybe it was my already fucked up psychological problems that made it so much more drastically worse for me, that and my deep closeness with my dad.

I wish I could find what Mandy Patinkin did in his scenes with the six fingered man, a short moment of catharsis. I'm still anguished about my dad's death. Granted its only been a year and 8 months for me, but it's there everyday, every second.

[larrikinisahimbo]

Thoughts on rewatch of the Batman 2022

"Ave Maria" faintly playing in the background in the beginning. Hadn't noticed that before.

Gotta look fabulous before going to beat the life out of criminals.

This movie does a perfect job of separating Batman and Bruce Wayne. How different those two people are, despite being the same person.

Another aspect I love is that this is the very beginning stages of Batman's journey. He's not the "perfect, no mistakes, flawless detective work" Batman that most movies portray. He's learning, making mistakes, still needs to improve his skills and craft. And since it's the first years and he hasn't been established as an asset to the Gotham PD yet, the officers, rightfully so, *do not* like him which makes a lot of sense than letting him run amok. (Not that that gets any better with time but you feel the difference in how they take Batman's presence.)

"The city's eating itself. Maybe it's beyond saving. But I have to try." SEE that is how you characterise Bruce, hope and endurance in the face of despair.

The narrative parallel between the death of the mayor and his son finding the body, and young Bruce watching his parents being murdered. Oh, it's so good, I'm gonna eat my hand.

Bruce saying he doesn't care what happens to his family's business and all the work they've done, equating his worth to what he does as a vigilante just goes to show how much the trauma and mental anguish has taken over his life, and now the severe depression, suicidal tendencies, even subconsciously just looking for an excuse to not live hits too close to home.

Robert Pattinson's back 😳 (I am a whore, leave me alone)

Batman fucking up the twins will never not be funny.

You've gotta be honest, our edgelord's entrance into Penguin's lair is nothing short of iconic.

I love this version of Penguin so much, he's the right amount of menacing and goofy.

THE FIRST MEETING OF BATCAT. Love-at-first-sight if I've ever seen it.

I fucking LOVE seeing Catwoman in action.

If I don't meet my S/O with us having a 1v1 and them manhandling me, what even is the point of it all.

Selina and Bruce's socio-economic background play such a big role in their reasons and aspirations to be heroes (or vigilantes). Glad this movie doesn't gloss over that.

Batsy is such a bastard in his early days. Selina should deck him.

He has so much to learn and grow, not just as Batman, but as a person. Yes, this is about him sending Selina as a spy.

Bruce Wayne looking like he's having the worst time of his life when he's in public. I love this socially repulsive man with all my heart.

Bruce seeing his child self in the mayor's son, but now with new responsibility of solving this mystery, just wow. A lot of movies, at least the live-action ones, tend to not prioritise portraying Bruce's childhood or the trauma he experienced with the gruesome murder of his parents, because at his core that's what led him down this path, it's just as, if not more, important, to him being the saviour, the knight of Gotham.

Him getting jealous thinking that's Selina with Falcone. Somebody's in love.

Riddler and his stupid love letters. Get a life.

Batman, you idiot, why would you stand with your face right infront for the bomb.

The police station scene is so funny. Poor Jim is losing it. "Great, now I got you on assaulting an officer." "You got me on assaulting three." Bad bitch energy.

"We gotta get you out of here buddy." "🥺" Gay behaviour.

OOOOOH. THE ESCAPE SCENE. Can't wait to see Batsy hit the ground and eat shit. THERE IT IS.

The fucking chase scene. Hell yeah. Emo Batman has some of the best entrances and chases in this movie. It's actually fun to watch and isn't cringe. What a refreshing change.

"Good cop, batshit cop." Jim shoving the pictures of the mutilated face into Penguin's face. I can't breathe.

Jim and Bats interrogating Penguin. Penguin roasting the fuck out of them. "No habla espanol, fellas?" "Shut up!" FUCKING HILARIOUS. Them leaving his tied up, and him waddling while cursing. THAT'S how you do comedy without breaking the tone of the movie, especially for dark superhero movies.

I know Alfred doesn't die but godsdammit I hate seeing him hurt.

Bruce lashing out because he feels betrayed but also reeling from getting flashbacks to his father's death while seeing Alfred in that bed, my boy was in the worst emotional state. I forgive him for being a little bitch to his dad (Alfred).

The heart to heart between Bruce and Alfred is such a tender and love-full moment. I needed that :,)

Selina should have just killed Kenzie before Bats came around. I support women's rights, but more importantly I support women's right to murder.

Carmine Falcone is such a sleazebag character. He gives me the creeps.

I love Jim Gordon. No particular scene inspired that statement, I just love him.

THE SECOND BEST HALLWAY FIGHT SCENE IN THE WORLD. I LOVE IT SO MUCH. I want it injected in my veins.

When Falcone is arrested and Penguin speaks against Carmine, I love that scene because it's a subtle indication to the end of the movie, where we see Penguin will now take over the criminal underworld of Gotham. The mighty Falcon has been taken down, the city is drowned. What better opportunity for a flightless bird to takeover?

Riddler with his dumb ass jokes and reddit lives. What a clown. He's dangerous but I can't take him seriously.

Batman appears and he just [starts screaming] peak teenage boy behaviour. Cringe lord. Be better.

Starting the movie with "I am darkness", contemplating if Gotham can even be saved, and ending it with Batman lighting the way, leading Gotham out of the destruction. GODS. Him coming to the realisation that Gotham, and by extension himself, need hope and change, not clinging to the past, not vengeance. That is so poetic.

In regards to BatCat, the last meeting really signifies their love story. He loves her, he truly does, and maybe in this version of the story they end up together despite all the, but Gotham will always be his priority. She wants him to live, not just exist, but live, but Bruce gave up on that idea long ago.

"The Bat and the Cat, its got a nice ring to it. [Pause] Who am I kidding? You're already spoken for." OK, Mr. Matt Reeves, why don't you just shoot me between the eyes?

[muttkep]

Greetings Rise fandom! I got another concept for you all!

This could be for its own au, but this is something I'm planning to add into my Dragon Turtles au. I got to thinking about how the turtles could advance with their mystic abilities after the events of the movie, and that's when I got the idea that the bros could gain familiars. Basically, think of these creatures as something like the Palismans from The Owl House, except instead of turning into staffs, they become more like totems, jewelry, or other small, inanimate objects that could be carried around in case of emergencies.

As for how they got them, I like to picture a sort of traveling market that popped up outside of Witch Town. That way all the bros can explore it out of curiosity without getting into trouble with the residents. And as for each one, they all chose the turtles based on a mystic connection. And each one is unique, so let's get into who got who:

Raph: Ursa Minor cub. Bears are classified as strong earth-based guardian spirits, but I wanted Raph's little buddy to be about more than just strength. I also wanted a mystic creature he could show a softer side with. One without worry of getting hurt by the amount of mental anguish suffered at the hands of the Krang turned possibly physical. Hence the decision to give Raph what is essentially a perfect sized teddy bear that also doubles as his mystic partner.

Donnie: Albino Basilisk. Now, I had quite a bit of debate on what to give Donnie as a familiar. I considered something like a rabbit or a cat, but that felt a bit too obvious or overdone. This version of Donnie deserved something unique, so I started looking for alternative animals. The basilisk stuck out to me in a few ways. One, snakes are usually connected to water. Two, making the creature albino means that it would have difficulties surviving, and would have to think outside the box to live in certain conditions. Kind of like Donnie and his soft shell. Making this serpent in particular a fast thinking/highly intelligent creature. Also, much like how Donnie could be misunderstood as a cold and closed off individual, so too are snakes. Snakes can be highly misunderstood as cold, efficient, killing creatures of evil, but some out there actually have calm and friendly temperaments. And while it would take Donnie a while to get over the creepy feeling of them crawling over him, the feel of the smooth skin would probably be great for someone who is theorized to have certain sensitivities to certain textures. Not to mention that the gentle massaging feels of them gently constricting him in a not-too-tight fashion could help keep him grounded in a mental spiral. (And yes, I based the design off of 2012's serpent Karai. it was an intentional reference)

Mikey: Phoenix. Mikey's was an obvious one for me to do. Being the most Mystically connected out of the brothers means he had the highest chances of bonding with a very powerful creature. Enter the phoenix, a firebird with the ability to be reborn from the ashes of an old life. Colorful, graceful, and powerful, the phoenix can also have a soft or even mischievous side to it. A fun-loving creature with great abilities to help a fledging mystic warrior like Mikey gain his proper footing in using them. Especially without hurting himself, like with the portal at the end of the movie. As well as helping him gain confidence to stand on his own when his brothers can't help him.

Leo: Kirin. Leo was also a hard one to figure out. I considered animals like stags, deer, elk and the like. But then, I remembered that Leo had a liking for Unicorns, however I didn't just want to give him a generic unicorn. That's when inspiration struck. I was revisiting the OVA series of Petshop of Horrors, and in the 4th episode, it talked about the Kirin. The Kirin is stated to be a holy beast, who serves no one but it's sovereign. Therefore, the person to gain possession of the Kirin, was destined to be a great ruler. That's when it all clicked into place. The Kirin is not only the Eastern equivalent to the unicorn, but a lot of what it represents could tie into Leo's struggles of being a better leader after the movie. Sovereign is another word for king or leader, and in ancient Chinese/general Asian lore, the arrival of a Kirin was meant to signify the coming or going of a great leading figure. A creature that was benevolent to its allies and had ruthless furry for its enemies. And not just anyone could choose a Kirin as a familiar or guardian spirit, it had to choose you. And after everything Leo went through, fears of failure, the pressures of leadership, the guilt of causing/nearly causing the apocalypse, he would need some kind of sign or reassurance that he was back on the right track. That he was improving and could be a good leader like Casey Jr. said. And what better way than to be chosen by a great mythic beast, with its own set of scars, to choose him to be its leader. If that doesn't prove Leo's leadership capabilities, I don't know what would.

Anywho, thanks for reading my crazed ramblings, and I hope you enjoy the content. Feel free to comment and let me know your thoughts on the concept. Hope to see you soon!

Characters mentioned are not mine, all referenced media belongs to their rightful owners. The artwork is mine only.

[munadrawson]

Commentary on the "Pardner" project

Before I mention the musical number project, fair warning that this will get personal. I worked on this project during the month of Ramadan when I could not leave home, which resulted in some mental anguish. But I won't get into details since it is pretty much self-explanatory if you're queer. FYI: This is long af. Lots to say.

Background:

I've been drawing fan illustrations/fan comics for 15 years. I never once reference anything from my cultural background. Wild, I know. One of the reasons why I have yet to do so until now was that there wasn't a desi-inspired character that I would enjoy as much as Frye, especially from a franchise that I had adored since day one when I was broke and just started college. There was no way 17 years old me would believe an inkling idol with a Desi background would be a thing and not be offensive. I know some voiced their issues with Frye's design, but after looking through the art book, I am GLAD this was the design they approved. I won't talk about colorism/racism in this post. Don't want to get into the social issues. This is a representation that I'm okay with, and it is a positive one.

So, I grew up watching musicals, whether it is from Disney or Bollywood/other box-office desi movies. Music is a pretty biggie dealie for yours truly. Gosh, I remember in elementary/grade school, I had a classmate who had the same energy as Frye and did the teeth thing as she brought a tape to school. She shared "Lal Dupatta" with the homeroom teacher on the school CRT tv. She was dancing and singing along with the song and tried to have me join in the festivity. But I was and am a shy girl, so I couldn't do it. I did enjoy her enthusiasm and the song. This was something I culturally understood. I felt connected.

Reminiscing that moment, I declared that I should reference one musical number that would fit in the Splatoon universe. For her sake and mine.

Old musical number:

One rule I had while I was searching for a song was that I didn't want the song to be too culturally specific or ignorant of stereotypes. So, no dancing. In the future, I'll draw Deep Cut dancing but nothing culturally significant until I do some well-deserving research before flinging myself into the fiery pits of hell. I learned my lesson internet, lol.

I had one specifically in mind before the partner song. More romantic implications, but it had one person singing. No duet. Sure, BM would appear more, but it would be just him playing an instrument while Shiver singing. Then I would have them crashing together while Frye witnessed this whole shebang at a distance. I also planned to add the Squidbeak Squad be the peanut gallery and have Craig do the "Harold, they're gay" joke. That was the initial idea until I stumbled upon a better one.

New musical number:

After eating my dinner, I passed by my mother while she watched Sholay. During that time, Mom was watching movies from the 60s and 70s on youtube. One was nostalgia, and the other was missing out on some or does not remember some of the stories. Sholay, particularly, caught my attention because the silver fox daddy, Sanjeev Kumar, appeared on the screen. Rood af, bruv. I know, thirst trap.

Seeing him in this movie triggered a memory where Dad showed me a motorcycle scene. I remember Kishore Da was the singer for that song, but that scene was from a different movie. A similar concept of two buddies riding on a motorcycle together, but the energy wasn't there. Out of curiosity, I ended up watching Sholay with Mom.

After viewing the friendship song, I shot up with excitement. "THIS! This one screams them!" As I initially said in the main post, I sought that chaotic energy. Two morally good-leaning thieves sing in a duet about their friendship while being a menace to society. That's THEM!

I know BM is an essential member of Deep Cut, but I'm not considering the movie but this specific score. If this project was about the movie, I would have DJ Octavio as Silver Fox Daddy, and BM would be Shiver's romantic interest. I did have plans on doing so in a separate post, but I gave up on that thought because I became exhausted after drawing eight pages of Fryver. I thought this would take me at least three weeks to draw. Instead, it was more than a month! I couldn't continue because of the lack of going to the gym, a month's worth of fasting, and in the middle of the holy month, I got sick from a stomach virus. Sorry BM. I want to tackle some other projects right now, and as promised, there will be more of him.

4 became 6, then 7, and finally 8:

Initially, I had the project divided into four pages. These were the four:

While drawing the four, I debated whether I should add in the coin toss scene. At that time, I could not figure out who could fill the village girl role until I was gobsmacked, realizing how slow and stupid I could be. I thought BM for the longest time, but he's too nice. If the coin rejects the idea of sleeping, he will give them the signature bear hug instead of waddling away. I want these two to be dunked on, especially after stealing his icy pop. "I'm upset that the dastardly duo stole my ice cream, but FRIENDS!!!" That kind of energy is NOT needed for this goof.

Once I figured out that the cousins could fill the Village girl role, the project became six pages long. I left that as a bonus. I acknowledge some people ship each of the cousins with Shiver/Frye. I nodded in some parts, like Callie's blushing. Hopefully, this bonus one was respectful enough. I didn't want to offend anyone.

At this point, I was confident that I was done until I realized there was no introduction to this project. Who the hell would know this 48-year-old movie reference? Very few. Which is fine. I don't know many pop cultural references. If you mention something about star wars, I would go whomst. Not a musical? Disengage, lol. I am not a movie buff to begin with. Music (folk metal plz) and (indie) games I fuck with. Anyway, I drew the introduction to the sketch dump:

I've laid the chorus across on the top. The background is straight out of the game (you got me bent sideways if you expected me to draw a unique background. Like, I'm insane, but not THAT insane.) I drew the characters that appeared in the sketch dump. These three stealing the show. How the hell did I draw this in one go?:

Damn, this hand. They're too cute for any school.

After, I've drawn the introduction. Surely, at this point, I'm done with this project. Nope. There is no conclusion. Can't have an introduction without a conclusion. Gotta include an ending. So, I contemplated. While doing that, I cleaned up some of the sketches, and I shared a part of the WIP with my partner, jokingly stating:

She was right. To close this project, it's literally sealed with a kiss. Why didn't I think of that?! Maybe because I assume they ARE together.

Despite being romantic, I often don't draw two characters kissing. I drew four kisses, including this one, within 15 years of actively drawing. I guess either I'm not confident at drawing that, or it's not a huge part of my love language. Also, it can't help when your girl towers over you. Usually, it's me receiving not giving. I need to carry a ladder around to kiss, lol.

At last, I drew the kiss. And boi, isn't it dramatic, huh? Nonetheless, It's thematic. I can finally close this project for good...? *Nervously laughing* There's more coming.

Additional Thoughts:

Fryver: If they're partners in crime, then they gotta gay equally. I made sure both of them had their moment in the spotlight. For example, in the coin toss scene, I initially had Frye flipping the coins. But, after drawing four pages where Frye leads some parts more than Shiver. Break the role and have Shiver take charge in this scene.

It works well, especially Shiver using their hand as a fan while simultaneously displaying the coins. This was before the art book! Pure coincidence that a character I finalized happens to like counting money in their pass time. This entire time, I thought BM was the money person. Big Man, big money. Naw, it's your local octoling, Shiver! Also, Frye doing the ;d with a tooth sticking out, giving a thumbs up. Great. Love to see it.

Big Man: Before the introduction page, BM only appeared once in the "MY ICECREAM" scene. This was drawn after the introduction:

The idea of having BM playing the trumpet while he perches on top of a moving truck, it's fucking hilarious. He rather not risk his life whenever either of the two operates a vehicle, but he's okay with playing incidental music on the roof of a stranger's car. Sure, buddy. You do you, lol. Squid Sisters: I have a project I want to do about the cousins. I am still determining how long that will take, but it's pretty long. I want to start something small.

This was my first time drawing them. I've drawn the other idols. Although chibi Marina should not count as adequately drawn. I do have an Off the Hook comic I want to work on. First, I need to write the script!

This was the first panel I drew before I worked on the other panels. This is basically my sister and me whenever we encounter someone we don't like or don't have the energy to engage. Lil sis will give her signature fake smile, and I'll give a stank look. No mask, no filter. I'm glad I could capture the dichotomy of the cousins in a single frame.

Final Thoughts:

There were moments when I wanted to give up entirely on this project. Negative thoughts such as, "No one would bat an eye at this," repeatedly. But as a perfectionist, I hate unfinished work. My work specifically. I persevered by telling myself, "Just do it for yourself."

It was a good drawing exercise. I want to get better at drawing these characters. Get to know and understand them better. I've abandoned trying to draw in Splatoon's anatomical proportions. Not my style, lol.

I'm happy that I drew the kiss. After sketching, yes sketching, seven pages, I was exhausted. I got sick in the middle of the fasting, unable to leave home because of fasting. It was too much (it's a good thing, I work remotely from home.) BUT. It's not gay, ya know. I'VE got to draw the SMOOCH. Or else this project will be trapped in the "gal pals" limbo. Also, not me struggling to NOT be wed to a cishet desi man. Anyone that is queer, plz.

Sigh. I had to draw this kiss secretly, away from my parents' prying eyes. I don't want them to question why I'm drawing two bipedal cephalopods kissing, let alone it being gay. And for whatever reason, they keep entering my office and staring at my monitors. I am a professional graphic designer, too. Let me work in peace!

Anyway, the kiss.

Honestly, talk about a mood. Especially when you're in a long-distance relationship. Five years in a romantic relationship and will be nine years in a platonic relationship with my partner in crime.